REXBURG According to Idaho Health and Welfare, 264 Idahoans lost their life to opioid overdoses in 2023 alone. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is frequently added to illegal substances to increase their addictiveness, was the cause of overdose in the vast majority of those fatalities. Fentanyl is fifty times more potent than heroin, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
MadisonHealth in Rexburg has teamed up with the Center for Hope to offer tools and information aimed at saving and enhancing lives. Together, they will organize A Community Conversation on Addiction and Recovery, a gathering aimed at uniting the community to combat the stigma associated with addiction and provide possibly life-saving support to individuals impacted by it. This Wednesday, June 25, from 7 to 9 p.m., Madison Memorial Hospital, located at 450 E. Main Street in Rexburg, will host the event. Everyone is welcome, and admission is free.
According to Andra Hansen, who works with The Center for Hope, “one of the challenges in Madison County is that we’re just not used to talking about (addiction).” There is a great deal of reluctance to admit such difficulties. People want to be helpful, but they don’t know how to go about doing it.
Breanna Latouche works as a volunteer with On the Ground, a group that supports local nonprofits. Latouche is assisting in promoting The Center for Hope and the event.
They are a non-profit advocacy organization that supports those with addiction and recovery. According to Latouche, they offer a variety of services to assist people, particularly those who have served time in prison, in reintegrating into society. Seeing other viewpoints on addiction and recovery is the main goal of this event.
Presentations by community members who have struggled with substance misuse and other advocates who offer assistance to anybody impacted by addiction, including friends and family of those suffering substance abuse, will be part of Wednesday’s community chat. Additionally, Hansen and Latouche highlight that the materials are helpful in combating addiction of any kind and invite anybody in the community who want to contribute to the solution, including educators and ecclesiastical leaders.
According to Hansen, we wish to erode the ambiguity and the stillness. We can have a conversation about this and take action.
Visit The Center for Hope’s website to learn more about them and how you can become involved.
